Knee protective gear

ABSTRACT

This device consist primarily of a contoured upper and lower member which are pivotably upon each other and includes padding and strap means so as to be comfortably adaptable to a person&#39;&#39;s leg so as to protect them from injury.

United States Patent Whitehead [45] Aug. 12, 1975 15 1 KNlElE PROTECTIVEGEAR 2,144,641 1/1939 Snyder 2/22 x 87 1 Inventor Charles Whitehead, 113538/582 211325 i212;

Glenmore Ave-1 Baltimore, 3,742,517 7/1973 Bednarczuk et a]. 2/22 21228Filed: 1 1973 Primary Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder [21] Appl. No.:415,311

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 2/22; 128/80 C; 128/88 [51] 11m. (11. A6 If5/00 This device consist primarily of a contoured upper and [58] Fieldof Search 2/22, 24; 128/80 C, 88, lower member which are pivotably uponeach other 128/89 and includes padding and strap means so as to becomfortably adaptable to a persons leg so as to pro- [56] ReferencesCited tect them from injury.

UNITED STATES PATENTS lcl 5 D F 1,622,211 3/1927 Sheehan 2/22 raw'ngguns SHEET PATENTEDAUH 21975 KNEE PROTECTIVE GEAR This invention relatesto protective gear for use particularly in contact sports.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide kneeprotective gear for leg protection in contact sports.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear whichwill serve to prevent knee injuries such as those that occur infootball, baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and other runningsports.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear whichwill be of such structure, so as to be flexible, the upper portion beingpivotable upon the lower portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear whichwill be padded and ventilated in such a manner so as to reduceperspiration and the device will include canvas strap means forattaching the lower and upper portion to the users leg.

A further object of this invention is to provide knee protective gear ofthe type described, which will be of such size, so as to be adaptable tofit the average adult athletes.

According to this invention, other object of this invention are toprovide protective gear for athletes, which is simple in design,inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use andefficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a rear view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 shown partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1, shown partly broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and partially exploded prespective view of thehinged portion of the device;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line5-5 of FIG. 4.

According to this invention, protective gear is shown to include anarcuately curved steel upper member 11 to which is secured fixedly, anouter portion 11a and an inner plastic portion 12, by means of rivetsfasteners 13,. A plurality of openings 14 through member 11, 11a, andI2, are counter-sunk from the interior so as to reduce perspiration to aminimum.

A pair of straps 15 of canvas or other suitable material with buckle 16means, provided a means for securing device 10 above the knee and belowthe knee. A

pair of rivet fasteners 17 provides a means for securing the strap 15portions through a plastic rectangular plate 18 which conforms to theshape of the users leg, the plate 18 being rubberized on the contactpoint or surface against the users leg.

A similar pair of straps 15 with buckles 16, are secured to a plasticplate 18 which is carried in a lower portion 11b of device 10 by meansof a contoured, canvas knee sling 20 which includes internal padding 21.Knee sling 20 includes rivet fasteners 30 and openings 14 similar tothat described of the upper member 11. The cut-out 22 between member 11and 20 provides locking means for the two members 11 and 20 when the twoedges 22a abut with each other, thus preventing the users knee frombeing bent the wrong way when engaging in contact sports. Looking nowparticularly at FIGS. 4 and Sof the drawings, the axle member 23 whichis flanged is shown in engagement with opening 24 and shown inengagement with padding dies 25.

It shall be noted that the upper member 11 and the lower portion 11b arepivotable by means of the axle 23 on each side, the arrangement beingsuch, that free normal movement is achieved without imparting any strainto the users legs.

What I now claim is:

l. A knee protective gear, comprising in combination an upper member ofgenerally semicylindrical shape so to rest against an above knee portionof a persons leg, said upper member being comprised of an outer, curvedsteel portion and an inner curved plastic portion that are rivetedtogether, perforated openings through said portions in order to reduceperspiration by a wearer, a lower edge of said upper member being up- Iwardly arched at its center so to form downwardly depending oppositeside ends in said steel portion, a flanged axle through each saiddepending side end, said axle being axially aligned with each other, anda lower portion pivotally attached on said axles, said lower portionbeing of generally semicylindrical shape so to rest against and below aknee portion of a persons leg, and being comprised of a knee slingperforated with openings therethrough so to reduce perspiration, apadding on an inner side of said sling for positioning against a personsknee, and each said upper and lower member having a plurality of strapssecured to each side edge thereof for securement together by bucklemeans, said straps extending around an outer side of plastic platespositioned against a rear side of said wearers leg, said plates beingsecured by rivets to certain of said straps.

1. A knee protective gear, comprising in combination an upper member ofgenerally semicylindrical shape so to rest against an above knee portionof a person''s leg, said upper member being comprised of an outer,curved steel portion and an inner curved plastic portion that areriveted together, perforated openings through said portions in order toreduce perspiration by a wearer, a lower edge of said upper member beingupwardly arched at its center so to form downwardly depending oppositeside ends in said steel portion, a flanged axle through each saiddepending side end, said axle being axially aligned with each other, anda lower portion pivotally attached on said axles, said lower portionbeing of generally semicylindrical shape so to rest against and below aknee portion of a person''s leg, and being comprised of a knee slingperforated with openings therethrough so to reduce perspiration, apadding on an inner side of said sling for positioning against aperson''s knee, and each said upper and lower member having a pluralityof straps secured to each side edge thereof for securement together bybuckle means, said straps extending around an outer side of plasticplates positioned against a rear side of said wearer''s leg, said platesbeing secured by rivets to certain of said straps.